Rail-joint



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M.. o; NILES. RAIL JOINT.

No. 509,581. Patented NovQZS, 1893.

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Mornqys v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. 1v1. 8. N1LB8. RAIL JOINT (No Model.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. C. NILES.

RAIL JOINT.

Patented Nov.,28, 1893.

l l-[ B Wets:

UNITED STATES PATENT fIEEicE.

` MILTON C. ILES, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,581, dated November28, 1893.

Application tiled September 22, 1892. Serial No. 446,544. (No model.) A

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON C. NILEs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oak Park, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rail joints, in which the railsare held against downward and lateral movement at their meeting ends, bymeans of inclined braces, taking their bearing directly under the headsof the rails, and serving to support the rails clear of the base-plate,thus constituting a self-tightening joint, and causing the sustainingresistance to be applied directly to the under sides of the heads of therails, the point where it is most needed.

The primary object of my invention, is to support the rails clear of thebase-plate directly from their heads, and to transmit the strainresulting from the downward or lateral pressure upon the rails, directlyto the baseplate, and practically in line with its crosssection; and atthe same time, make the braceplates by which the rails are thussupported, serve to hold the rails against independent verticalmovement.

A further object of my invention, is to make the brace-plates subservethe further important purpose of limiting the movement of the rails,resulting from expansion and contraction, without necessitating thepuncturing of such plates.

With these ends in View, my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty in the con struction, combination and arrangement of parts, bywhich the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter describedare attained, as fully explained with reference to accompanying drawingsand more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1, is an end view of my improved jointshowing the rail in section, on the line l, l, Fig. 2. Fig. 2, is a sideelevation of the same, on a smaller scale. Fig. 3, is a plan viewthereof. Fig. 4E, is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line 44, Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a view similar to Fig. 1, with certain partsomitted, as will be hereinafter described. Fie. 6, is a detailperspective view of one of the brace-plates, and

Fig. 7, is a detail perspective view of one of the bearing blocks,hereinafter described.

Like signs of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a preferably Hat base-plate A,which may or may not be supported upon the cross-ties B, accordingly asit happens to project across one or more of them, or between them. Thisbase-plate may be of any desired length, but usually, it is abouttwenty-eight inches long, and, consequently, it will ordinarily projectacross one or more ties, and this is preferable, because when soarranged the ties greatly add to the support of the base-plate.

On both sides of the rails, is arranged an inclined brace-plate C, whichextends along each rail a considerable distance from the meeting ends ofthe rails, and whose upper edge, throughout its length, impinges theheads of the rails, directly against their under side. The lower edge ofeach of these brace-plates rests throughout its length directly upon thebase-plate A, in the corner formed by such plate, and a stout uprightliange E, rising therefrom, and preferably eX- tending throughout thelength thereof, so as to stiffen the base-plate and hold it from bendingon a transverse axis. The lower edge of each of these brace-plates maybe formed on an angle, which will correspond to the angle formed by thebase-plate A, and its flange E, whereby it will seek its bearing at thelowest point possible against the iiauge E, and thus bring the strainresulting from pressure upon the rails, practically in line with thecross-section or transverse diameter of the base-plate, thereby reducingto a minimum the liability of the anges E breaking or bending under thestrain, and also making it impossible to depress the rails to anymaterial extent, without pulling the base-plate asunder, against itstensile strain. To further the same end, I provide the lower edge ofeach brace-plate C, with its greatest bearing surface underneath, asshown, in order that it may have less Verticalorupright bearing surfacein contact with the flange E; and such iiange is inclined outwardly onboth sides, in order that the maximum strength at its base may beobtained with the minimum amount of metal.

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The brace-plates proper, C, are preferably flat, or without bends orangles,in order that they may best resist the strain, and they are ofsuch width as to support the rails slightly above the base-plate, asshown in the drawings. The under side of each brace-plate, however, isprovided at its upper edge with a depending enlargement or extension F,which extends downwardly and rests upon or impinges the foot flanges dof the rails, preferably at a point near the webs, d. largements orextensions, F, preferably eX tend throughout the length of thebrace-plates C, and thus serve the purpose of the ordinary iish plates,iilling the space between the heads and flanges of the rails and holdingthe rails againstindependent vertical movement. It is to be noted,however, that vertical movement in a downward direction, is effectuallyresisted by the brace-plates C, the enlargements or extensions F beingchiefly for the purpose of carrying both rails down together, shouldeither be depressed, thus avoiding unevenness .at the joint.

The @upper edges of the brace-plates C and the `lower vedges of theextensions F, are so formed with relation to each other, and to theang-le of inclination of the surface of the foot iauge d, and the underside of the head D, that should any downward movement of the rails takeplace independently of the baseplate, causing ,the brace-plates C toturn on their -upperedges, the increase in the distance betweentheypoint of bearingvof the lower edge of thezextension F, and the undersurface of the -head of the rail, will be compensated for by -a widerportion of the upper edge of the plate C `coming in contact with theheads of the rails. This is accomplished by inclining the upper edge ofthe plate C upwardly along the Kunder side of the head of the rail, sothat when the yrails descend, causing the lower edge of the extension Fto come outward, letting the upper-edge of the plate `C downward, thecorner c, on the upper edge of the plate C, willaccordingly move inwardtoward. the rail, and thus compensate for the downward and outwardAmovement of the lower edge of the extension F. This movement, however,is onlya possible and not a probable contingency, for it is quiteevident that if the brace'- plate C on one side descends toward thehorizontal, the brace-plate on the other side must make asimilarmovement, and as such a movement would'brin g the upper ends of theplates nearer together, it follows that the movement;

could :not take ,place at all, without crushing the rails, or elsepulling the base-plate A in two, yneither of which could possibly resultfrom the Weight to which the rails are ordinarily subjected. Theseextensions or enlargements F, areutilized for the further purposeoflimiting the movement of the rails resulting from expansion andcontraction, and I accomplish this by providing each of the eX- tensionsor enlargements F, in its inner side or face, with a number of elongatedsockets These ent G, into which fit short transverse lugs H, projectingthrough the ordinary bolt holes in the webs. of the rails. The socketsare formed only partially through the brace-plates C, because when soformed, they do not materially weaken the brace-plates, and at the sametime, they serve to hold the lugs in place without other attachments,and without danger of displacement, while effeetually resisting thelongitudinal movement of the rails.

I prefer to form the lugs H separate from the brace-plates, instead ofmaking them integral therewith, because it is easier to produce thebrace-plates with sockets than it would be to produce them withprojecting lugs. These lugs H, are, of course, arranged on both sides ofthe inter-section of therails,

and it' desired, they may be arranged at such ldistance apart as toprevent the upper edges of the rails from coming together, if, duringthe expansion of the rai-ls, their ends are depressed under the weightof the rolling stock; for, if the edges of the rails do not touch atsuch time, the shearing off or chipping of their upper edges, resultingfrom the great pressure thereon thus produced, will be `prevented.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen thatthe brace-plates alone,whenused in con-junction with the base-plate, will support the railsdirectly upon the base-plate from the under side of'their heads, and theprojections or enlargements F will act like the ordinary iish plates, inholding .the rails vagainstindependent vertical displacement, theconstruction and arrangement `being such as to'be selftightening underthe weight of the rolling stock. In order,'however, that thebase-platemay be supported in the event there is no cross-tie arranged under it,and in order further, that the rails may be held down in position, Iclamp the base-plate and the rails together, by means of a number ofupright bolts I, passing through the base-plate at both sides of theiianges of the rails, and being provided with bearing blocks J, uponwhich the bolts take their bearing, and which in turn are supported uponthe flanges ofthe rails. I prefer to arrange one of the bolts I, neareach end of the base-plate, on each side, and to pass them throughperforations j, formed in the horizontal portions J', of the bearingblocks J. Each of the bearing blocks J, is `preferably provided with anupright portion, J2, which is slightly inclined toward the rail and isprovided at its lower end with an enlarged bearing toe J B, which servesto distribute the pressure throughout a greater area of the rail iiange,while the incline of the portion J2, brings the bearing toe nearer tothe center of the rails, where the webs are better able to withstand thepressure.

The bearing vblocks J are of such height that the outer ends'of thehorizontal portions J will rest against the inner sides of the iianges Eof the base-plate, and the outer ends of such portions J being beveledorinclined,

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to correspond to the inclination of the flange E, it will be seen thatby tightening up the bolts I, the bearing blocks, while they are forceddownward by the pressure of the bolts, will also be carried inward bythe inclination or bevel of the flanges E; but, it will be understood,that both the downward and the inward movement of the bearing blocks isvery slight, inasmuch as any inward movement of the bearing blockproduces a corresponding upward movement, by reason of the fact that thebearing toe thereon rests upon the inclined flange of the rail; andconsequently, the inclinations of the flange of the rail'and the flangeE act in opposition to each other and lock the bearing block againstmaterial movement in any direction.

The bearing blocks J, need be of sufficient length only to serve as firmbearing surfaces for the bolts I, and the brace-plates C may be of justsufficient length to extend between the bearing blocks, at each end ofthe joint; thus, the lugs H, will transmit their pressure induced by theexpansion and contraction of the rails, to the bearing blocks J, throughthe medium of the brace-plates C, and the bearing blocks J, beingsecurely held to the baseplate by means of the bolts I, the base-plateitself, may be provided at its outer edges with projecting flanges K, inwhich notches may be formed for the passage of spikes L, for securingthe base-plate to the ties, in the ordinary manner, and thereby limitingthe creeping movement of the rails, as a whole. With a joint thusconstructed, it will be seen that even though there should be no tie orties under the base-plate, the latter will be firmly supported upon thefoot flanges of the rails, by means of the bearing blocks and uprightbolts; and inasmuch as these bearing blocks are located at aconsiderable distance from the inter-section of the rails, it will beunderstood, that any downward movement of the rails at theirinter-section, would be transmitted to such blocks through the medium ofthe long base-plate, which acting as a lever of the third order, wouldproduce comparatively but slight pressure upon the rail flanges, wherethey are impinged by the bearing blocks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails, of brace platesbearing under the heads of the rails, and a base plate upon which saidbrace plates rest, adjustably supported on the rails independently ofsaid brace plates, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with rails having bolt-holes in thewebs thereof, of braceplates held against said rails and each having twosockets in its inner face, one on each side of the intersection of therails, and short `lugs arranged in said holes in the rails, and engagingin the sockets in, and passing partially through, said brace-plates andbeing held in place thereby, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails having holes therein,and a base-plate, of inclined brace-plates for supporting the rails, andlugs engaging in said holes in the rails and being held in place by saidbraceplates, substantially as set forth.

et. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails having bolt holes inthe webs thereof, of a base-plate, brace-plates supporting the railsupon said baseplate and having elongated sockets in their inner faces,and lugs passing through the rails and engaging in said sockets,substantially as set forth. Y Y Y 5. In a rail joint, the combinationwith the rails having bolt holes in the webs thereof, of a base-plate,brace-plates supporting the rails upon said base-plate, and short lugsarranged in said holes in the webs of the rails and passing partiallythrough said brace-plates and being held in place thereby, substantiallyas set forth.

6. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails having holes in thewebs thereof, of a base-plate having flanges, inclined braceplatesengaging between the heads of the rails and said flanges and havingdepending enlargements impinging the foot flanges of the rails and beingprovided with elongated sock-` ets, and lugs passing through the webs ofthe rails and engaging in said sockets, the ends of said lugs beingcompletely inclosed by the said brace-plates, substantially as setforth.

7. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails, of a base-platehaving upright flanges, brace-plates resting directly upon saidbaseplate against said flanges and supporting the rails, and means forsupporting said baseplate upon the foot flanges of the rails,independently of said brace plates substantially as set forth.

8. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails, of a baseplatehaving upright llanges, straight brace-plates resting directly upon saidbase-plate against said flanges, and impinging the heads of the rails,and having enlargements impinging the foot flanges of the rails, andupright bolts arranged at the edges of the rails and adapted to supportthe base-plate upon the foot flanges thereof, independently of saidbrace plates substantially as set forth.

9. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails, of a base-platehaving upright flanges at both sides thereof, brace-plates restingdirectly upon said base-plate against said upright flanges and bearingunder the heads of the rails on both sides, bearing blocks resting uponthe foot flanges of the rails and bearing against said upright flangesof the base-plate, and bolts passing through said bearing blocks andbase-plate, substantially as set forth.

l0. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails, of a base-platehaving upright beveled anges, brace-plates bearing under the heads ofthe rails and resting upon said base-plate against said flanges, bearingblocks supported IOOV IIO

and having depending enlargements impinging the foot flanges of therails, lugs for limiting longitudinal movement of the rai1s,held

in place by said brace-plate@ bearing blocks resting upon the footflanges of the rails andy against said flanges of the `base-plate, andbolts for supporting the base-plate upon said bearing blocks,substantially as set forth.

MILTON C. NILES. VVl/'ituessesz F. A. HOPKINS, R. C. OMoHUNDRo.

